Illinois Valley Times

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) expressed optimism regarding a letter of intent from OFS Healthcare to purchase St. Margaret's Hospital's recently closed Peru location.

“Though there are undoubtedly more challenges ahead, I am hopeful that today’s announcement is a positive step in ensuring that the residents of the Illinois Valley region will continue to have access to comprehensive and quality healthcare within their own community,” Rezin wrote in an official statement in a May 5 Facebook post. “I know that both Representative Lance Yednock and I stand ready to assist in this transition process however we can within our legislative powers.”

In addition to Peru, a news release states OSF Health also plans to purchase other St. Margaret’s Hospital locations around the Illinois Valley. Regulatory approvals come next, and that could take some time, according to the healthcare provider.

“Despite the challenges we’ve faced, we have remained committed to our Mission and to the values of Catholic health care,” St. Margaret’s Health President and CEO Tim Muntz said in the release. “Together with OSF, we are exploring how residents of the Illinois Valley can access quality health care for years to come.”

The St. Margaret's Hospital location in Peru closed on Jan. 28. Shaw Local reported on Jan. 30 that this affected all hospital services, including all acute hospital services in the area, emergency room, ICU, Med-Surg/Peds, obstetrics, all surgeries, lab, X-ray and other outpatient hospital services.

According to Shaw Local, officials at St. Margaret's recently began meeting with "a larger health system" to discuss the potential purchase of St. Margaret's, but would not disclose the name of the larger health system in question.

When St. Margaret's closed in January due to financial reasons, officials called the situation "temporary."

Central Illinois Proud reported that Muntz said a best case scenario showed the hospital reopening in 60 days and becoming a rural emergency hospital after reopening.